Draft-rigging for railway-cars.



PATENTED' JUNE 23,- 1903.

I. M. WAUGH.

DRAFT RIGGING FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 24, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

W/ l A XOu section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l.

`a similar section taken. on line 4 4 of Fig. l.

Figs. 5 and Gare face and side views of one `JAMES MILTON wAuea Patented June 23, 1903.'

PATENT OFFICE.

or cnicAeo, iLLiNoIs.

DRAFT-,mesme Foa RAlLwAY-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 731,725, dated June 23, 1903. Application tiled January 24, 1902. Serial No". 91,029. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JAMES MILTON WAUGH, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Rigging for Railway-Cars; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had-to the accompanyingfdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part` of this specification.

This invention relates to coupling devices for railway-cars, and more especiallyto the connections between the draw-bar and draftsills, lwhereby a cushioned graduated resistance to the shocks occurringin coupling ordu'e to `variable strains in traction are obtained.

The invention herein described relates more particularly to that class of connecting, devices between a draw-bar and the draft-1 sills of a car, such as is illustrated in Letters;

Patent No. 683,236, issued to merSepteniber 24.-, 1901, wherein a coiled draw-bar spring is used in connection with spring follower-` plates.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate in onepractical form the several feaing my invention associated therewith. Fig.

2 is a verticalsection of the sanleparts, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l, showing the draw-bar Fig. 3 is a cross-` Flg. #l S1 spring in side elevation.

of the bearing-plates shown in Figs. l, 2, and

3. Fig. 7 is a detail section' taken on line 7` As shown in the drawings,'A A indicate the end portions of the d raft-sills, which form parts of the floor-frame ofthe car.

B indicates a draw-bar, which is located' centrally between the draft-sills and is provided with a yoke C,`which is formed by into U form and having its side parts arranged horizontally and parallel with each other, with its ends overlapping the top and bottom `surfaces of the inne:` end of the drawbar, to which it is secured by means vof bolts or rivets c c. In the construction illustrated two draw-bar springs D D are used, the saine being ot' coiled form and located one within the other.

E E designate recessed. draft-irons, which are secured to the inner surfaces of the draftsills.

At each end of the springs D D is located a set of transversely-arranged sp ring followerplates, the ends of which extend into the recesses of the draft-irons. The follower-plates constituting the set at the outer end of the said springs D D' are indicated by the letters F F, the saine being located between the end ofthe spring and the inner end ofthe draftbar B. The follower-plates constituting the set at the inner end of said springs D D are indicated `by F2 F3 and are located between said springs and the inner end of the drawbar yoke C. The draft-irons are provided on their adjacent faces with vertical shoulders e e/ for contact with the ends of the said spring follower-plates. The shoulders e face inwardly and are adapted for contact with the follower-plates F, while the shoulders e' face outwardly and are adapted for engagement with the ends of the follower-plates F3. Said shoulders e e are formed by means of integral vertical ribs e2 e3, formed `on the inner faces of the draft-irons. On the said draftirons opposite the said draw-bar spring are located two horizontally-sliding abutmentplates G G, the ends of which form inwardly and outwardly facing shoulders adapte-d for contact with the ends of the follower-plates F F2, said sliding abutment-plates being generally similar to those shown in mytprior patent, No. 690,684, of January `7, 1902. Said draft-irons E E have the form of recessed or flanged plates secured by mortises and bolts to the inner surfaces of the draft-sills A. Each of said plates E is provided with an upper horizontal longitudinal flange E2 and with a lower horizontal longitudinal Iiange E3, the latter being formed by a separate horizontal bottom plate E4, removably secured to the IOO plates by bolts c c. Said horizontal flanges form, with the vertical ribs e2 e5, recesses into which the ends of the several follower-plates -project and within which the movable abutment-plates D D are inserted and adapted to slide. The lower flange or bottom plate E2 serves to support the follower-plates in position and when detached enables said followerplates to be readily dropped ont of their places. To support and guide the abutmentplates, lugs E5 are cast on the inner faces of the draft-irons and extend through horizontal slots g in the abutment-plates. So far as these'details are concerned the device illustrated is like those shown in the prior patents hereinbefore referred to. The several follower-plates are straight or dat, and the plat-es F F or F2 F3, constituting each set, are separated by metal spacing-blocks, each consisting of two parts, (indicated by ff/f2f3.) Said spacing-blocks are supported or held in place between the follower-plates by means of intermediate follower-plates F7 FS, the plate l1"7 being inserted and secured between the,

two parts ff of one of the spacing-blocks, and the plate Fs being likewise inserted and secured between the partsf2f3 of the other spacing-block, so that the said .plates F7 FS by engagement of their ends with the recesses of the draft-irons serve as a means of supportingorholding in place the spacing-blocks as a whole. i

So far as the operation of the plates F7 F8, supporting the two-part spacing-blocks, is concerned the parts constituting said spacing-blocks may be attached to said plates in any suitable or preferred manner. I have, however, shown in the accompanying drawings a special construction for this purpose, which is in itself novel, the same consisting in a plurality of studs f4, secured in one of the parts, as f or f2, passing through holes formed in the supporting-plates F7 and F8 and entering holes or sockets formed in the other part, as f or f2, of the spacing-blocks. It is not necessary that the said studs should be secured in the holes or sockets which receive them, inasmuch as the pressure of the drawbarsprings always holds the parts together, and by so constructing the parts that the said st-uds lit loosely in the sockets the parts may be more readily assembled or taken apart.

As a further improvement upon the construction shown in said prior patents I place between the ends ofthe draw-barsprings and the follower-plates bearing-plates I-I H', which Vare arranged to take the end thrust of the springs and transmit the same to the followerplates. The said bearing-plates are provided with central studs or projections 7L h, which enter the ends of the inner spiral spring D and fit therein sufficiently close to hold said spring centrally in place. The said studs h 7L are, moreover, made of such length that they will come in contact with each other to limit the compression of the draw-bar springs. The said studs are preferably made of such length that they will abut against each other just before the coils or convolutions of the spring are brought into Contact with each other, thereby avoiding liability of breakage of the springs, which often occurs when the shock of coupling is so great as to bring the coils of the spring solidly into contact with each other. The plates H II' are held from moving or shifting vertically by contact of their upper and lower edges with the upper and lower parts of the yoke C, said bearing-plates being provided for this purpose with horizontal top and bottom surfaces or edges, as clearly seen in Fig. 5. Said bearing-plates are also held from shifting sidewise or laterally by means of upwardly-projecting lugs h2 72,2 thereon, which lugs rise at either side of the upper member of the yoke in position for engagement of their outer edges with the inner edges of the top flanges of the draft-irons. By reason of the engagement of the said bearing-plates with the parts of the yoke and the 'anges of the draft-irons, as described, said plates are held positively in position and in turn serve to support the studs h h and to hold in place the central or interiorspiral spring D. The exterior spring D is held or confined from movement at its top and bottom by the upper and lower parts of the yoke C, as clearly seen in Fig. 2, while sidewise movement thereof is prevented by means of vertically-arranged guide-plates I, located inside ofthe abutment-plates and secured to the inner ends of the studs E5, by which vthe sliding abutment-plates are held in place. Said guide-plates I are, as herein shown, attached to the inner ends of said studs or lugs by means of bolts i, which pass through the studs to the outer faces of the draft-irons, as clearly seen in Figs. 4 and 7.

The natural or normal position of the several parts is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the follower-plates F F' F2 F3 being held by the expansive action of the draw-bar springs, with ICO IIO

their ends in contact with the shoulders e e u on the draft-irons. At this time the ends of the,abutmentplates are located a short distance from the two innermost sets Ff F2 of follower-plates. The parts being in this position, when the draw-bar is forced toward the center of the car the ends of the innermost follower-plates of the set at the outer end of the draw-bar spring will come in contact-with the adjacent end of the abutmentplates G G, with the result of forcing or moving said abutment-plates endwise and bringing them into contact with the follower-plate F2 at the opposite or inner end of the drawbar spring. Thereafter both sets of plates F F2 will be bent or fiexed until their ends are brought into contact with the exterior plates F F3. As the abutment-plates are thus moved, the inward movement of the draw-bar will be resisted not only by the draw-bar spring `D `D', but also by the resistance afforded by the bending of saidfollower-plates F F2. After the last-mentioned followerplates have been exed sufficiently to bring them into contact with the exterior plates F F3 then further inward movement ofthe draw-bar will be resisted by all of the follower-plates working together; or, in other y words, if-,the `pressure of the draw-bar due to the shock of coupling isgreater than will be absorbed by the interior plates Ff F2 the` exterior plates F F3 will Itake part of the pressure by reason of the contact therewith lof the ends of said innermost plates F' F2.

In the outward movement of the draw-bar, such as occurs when the train is starting or under similar conditions, the movement described will be` reversed, the yoke in such `case acting on the inner ends ofthe drawbar spring anditending to force the plates F against the shoulders e and the plates F2 against the ends of the sliding abutmentplates. In both cases the action of the drawbar` spring and the follower-plates will afford a graduated cushioned resistance to the` shocks coming on the draw-bar, as set forth in the prior patents hereinbefore referred to.

The exterior follower-plates F F3 will preferably be made stier than the others, be-

bar. platesare shown as made of four thicknesses cause they act to take the ultimate strain or to finally limit the movement of the draw- For this purpose the said exterior or layers;but, if desired or preferred, thicker plateslor a single thick plate may be substituted forthe said plates F F3. 'lhe interior plates F F2 are shown as consisting each of three plates; but a greater or less number `may of course be used in accordance to the conditions in any particular case.

. The studs h h upon the guide-plates H H' being, as before stated, arranged to come in contact Witheach other when the draw-bar springs `have been compressed to the maximum extent found desirable-or practicable, said studs take the entire end thrust'of the draw-"bar after the draw-bar' springs have been so compressed and serve to transmit `the said end thrust to the set of exterior setof springs, and I similarly provide on .the V65...

inner end of saidyoke a bearing-block J, the contact-face of which is-1ikewisenarrow and vertical. Vith this construction the ends of the spring follower-plates are left free t0 be bent or iiexed throughout a considerable portion of the length of the same, thereby giving greater elasticity to the plates and enabling them to afford a greater degree of spring resistance to the movement of the draw-bar after the spiral spring has been compressed and the pressure of the draw-bar is taken by the studs h 7L.

As a further improvement the removable bottom plates E3 of the draft-irons are extended inwardly or made so wide that their inner edges are brought nearly into contact with the side edges of the lower member of the yoke. By this construction the said plates Esare adapted to form lateral guides for the yoke, `adapted to hold the yoke from sidewise movement under lateral strains coming on the draw-bar, and thereby hold the draw-bar and yoke always Ain their central position. The said bottom plates E3 may be adapted to withstand the lateral strains brought thereon by the contact of the yoke therewith by being Varranged to abut or bear laterally outward wise and lateral strains or pressure brought i.

on the said plate is transmitted directly to the draft-iron and does not come on the vertical bolts which hold it in place. The blottom plates E3 are shown in Figs. 2 and 3 as arranged and attached in the same manner as are the like plates shown in said application, so as to relieve the bolts c4 eL from the strains due to the contact of the yoke therewith. As in the like construction shown in said application, the plates E3 will at their y middle parts be cut away at their edges adjacent to the draft-irons to form slots g2 to receive depending flanges g' on the lower edges of the abutment-plates G, as also shown in Fig. 3 said Hanges serving to confine in place the lower parts of the said abutmentplates, as fully set forth in said prior application.

I claim as my invention- IOO IIO

1. The combination with a shouldered draftsill, of a `draw-bar, a draw-bar spring, spring follower-plates interposed between the ends of the draw-bar spring and the draw-bar, spac-` sills, `of a draw-bar, a draw-barspring, spring follower-plates interposed between the ends each end of the spring, said spacing-blocks consisting each of two parts or sections, and

follower-plates interposed between said partsor sections for supporting the spacing-blocks,

' said supporting follower-plate being provided with holes, and the parts of spacing-blocks with lugs and sockets,said lugs being adapted to pass through the holes in the supporting follower-plate.

3. The combination with shouldered draftsills, ofa draw-bar, a draw-bar spring, spring follower-plates interposed between the ends of said draw-bar spring andthe draw-bar, and bearing-plates interposed between the ends of said spring and the follower-plates, and which are provided with rigidly-attached studs which project toward each other and are adapted for contact to limit the compression of said spring, said bearing-plates being unattached to the follower-plates and having bearing-contact at their edges with the yoke.

4. The combination with shouldered draftsills, of a draw-bar provided with a yoke, a d raw-bar spring, spring follower-plates interposed between the ends of the draw-barspring` and the draw-bar and its yoke, and bearingplates interposed between the ends of the spring and the said follower-plates, said bearing-plates being engaged at their upper and lower edges with the yoke, and being provided with rigidly-attached studs which enter the ends of the said spring and which are adapted for contact with each other to limit the compression of the spring.

5. The combination with shouldered draftsills, of a draw-bar, acoiled draw-bar spring, spring follower-plates interposed between the ends of said draw-bar spring and the drawbar and bearing-plates interposed between the ends of the spring and the said followerplates, said bearing-plates being provided with inwardly extending rigidlyattached studs which enter the ends of the spring and are adapted for contact with each other to limit the compression of the spring and also with lateral bearing-surfaces adapted for sliding engagement with parallel bearing-snrfaces on the draft-sills to hold the said plates from lateral movement.

6. The combination with shouldered draftsills, of a draw-bar having a yoke, a drawbar spring, spring follower-plates interposed between the ends of said draw-bar spring and the draw-bar and its yoke, and bearing-plates interposed between the ends of the spring and the said follower-plates, said bearingplates being provided with inwardly-projecting rigidly-attached studs which enter the ends of the spring and are adapted for contact with each other to limit the compression of the spring, said bearing-plates being adapted to bear at their upper and lower edges against the upper and lower parts of the drawbar yoke, and having lateral bearing-surfaces adapted to engage parallel bearing-surfaces tending, longitudinal top flanges, a draw-bar i,

having a yoke, a coiledl draw-bar spring,

spring follower-plates interposed between the ends of said spring and the draw-bar and its yoke, and bearing-plates interposed between the ends of the spring and the follower-plates, said bearing-plates being provided with rigidly-attached studs which enter the ends of the draw-bar spring and are adapted for contact with each other to limit the compression of the spring, said bearing plates being adapted to bear at their upper and lower edges against the upper and lower parts of the draw-bar yoke, and having at their upper edges lugs which extend upwardly at the sides of the yoke and are adapted for sliding engagement with the longitudinal ianges on the draft-irons.

8. The combination with draft irons, a draw-bar, a draw-bar spring, spring followerplates interposed between the draw-bar sprin g and the draw-bar, slotted abutmentplates mounted to slide on the draft-irons, lugs on' the draft-irons which pass through the slots in said abutment-plates, and guide-plates for the spring secured to said lugs inside of the abutment-plates.

9. The combination with shouldered draftsills, of a draw-bar, a draw-bar spring, spring follower-plates interposed between the inner ends of said draw-bar and the draw-bar spring, and spacing-blocks separating the said follower-plates, the inner end of the draw-bar being provided with a narrow, vertically-extending surface for contact with the exterior follower-plate.

10. The combination with shouldered draftsills, of a draw-bar, and draw-bar yoke, a draw-bar spring, spring follower-plates interposed between the ends of said draw-bar spring and -the draw-bar yoke; the inner end of the draw-bar and the end portion fof the yoke being provided with central, Vertical bearing surfaces made narrower than the draw-bar and yoke for contact with the exterior follower-plates.

1l. The combination with shouldered draftsills, of a draw-bar and yoke, a draw-bar spring, spring follower-plates, sliding abutment-plates mounted on the sills between the ends of the follower-plates, and bearing-plates interposed between the ends of lthe spring, and the follower-plates, and provided with inwardly extending rigidly-attached studs adapted for contact to limit the compression of the springs, said bearing-plates being unattached to the follower-plates and having bearing engagement at their edges with the yoke and with parallel bearing-surfaces on the draft-sills.

12. The combination with shouldered draf*- sills, of a draw-bar and yoke, a draw-bar spring, two sets of spring follower-plates located one set at each end of the springga with the yoke and with parallel bearing-surspacing-block between the follower-plates of faces on the draft-sills. each set, movable abutment-plates adapted In testimony that I claim the foregoing as y to act on the innermost plates of the tWo sets my invention I affix my signature, in presr 5 p 5 of follower-plates, and bearing-plates interence of two Witnesses, this 21st day of J anu'- posed between the ends of the spring and ary, A. D. 1902.

said innermost follower-plates, and provided with rigidly-attached studs which act to limit JAMES MILTON WAUGH the compression of said spring, said bearing- Witnesses: t t lo plates being nnattaehed to the'folloWer-plates C. CLARENCE POOLE,

and having bearing engagement at their edges WILLIAM L. HALL. 

